End-gate raiser for mine cars



Z. GRASS.

END GATE RAI SER FOR M|NE CARS. APPLICATION FILED MAR=2, 192;).

7, 9 Patehted Feb. 21, 1922 Z. GRASS.

END GATE RAISER FOR MINE CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MARi 2. 1920.

1,407,329. I Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

ATI'ORNEY Zack INVEINTOR I ZACK GRASS, or HEINER, KENTUCKY.

E D-GATE RAISER FOR MINE cARs.

, Cars, of which the following is a specifie cation.

This invention relates to dumping devices used particularly in coalmines, and has for its object the provision of automatically operatedmeans whereby the end gate of a mine car will be raised when the min'ecar reaches the dump whereby to eliminate the necessity of manualmanipulation with its attendant dangers and inconveniences.

An important and more specific object is the provision of a device ofthis character which includes a movablemember which is moved into anelevated position as the mine car approaches the dump and which is swungdownwardly by spring pressure into engagement with a projecting armcarried by the end gate of the mine car whereby to raise the end gate,movement of this operat- I ingv member being efi'e'cted by a trip railengaged by the car.

A further object is the provislon of a device of this character whichwill be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, highly efficient in use,pos1t1ve 1n operatlon, durable in service, and a general improvement-1nthe art.

With'the above and other objects and advantages in view the inventionconsists in the details of construction to-be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device installed, the movablemember being shown in its lowered position engaging the projection onthe end gate and holding the latter raised,

Figure 2 is a similar view. showing the movable member elevated,

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through the trackway, showing mydevice in end elevation, and

Figure 4; is a detail view illustrating a slight modification.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates thetrack rails approaching the dump B which in the present instance isshown as the Philips dump Specification of Letters Patent.-

PatentediFeb. 21,1922.

Application filed March. 2, 1920. Serial No. 362,813; v

though as will be hereinafter explained,.jthe

device is equally well adapted for use upon dumps ofdifferent types.Thetrack rails carry the usual spring-pressed buffer "or 1 stop memberCengageable by the wheels D of the car E at the dump. The car E carriesthe usualpivoted end gate F which, in the'present mst'ance, 1s shown asprovided centrally with an upstanding bar 10 which projectsjabove itsupper edge. u u u Secured by any suitable means within the mine isasuper-structure 11; which may be supported from the shaft by anydesired means and this'superstructureincludes lon gitudinal bars 12,depending sidebars 13, and a cross bar 14 connecting the lower ends ofthe side bars 13. Secured; between the lower ends ofthe bars 13 is asha'ft 15 which may infactual practice be a length ofheavy pipe andpivoted upon thisishaft isa movable plate member 16 which, when,

swung--downwardly, is adapted to engage 7 the upper end of thebar 1Ovcarried by the end gate/ Secured upon the shaft-15 is an arm 17 withwhich is connected One end of a coil spring 18 whi,ch has itsother end'con ne'cted with a-bar 19 secured to and projecting from one'of theside bars 13. v

The means for moving the plate 16 comprises a trip rail 20 carried bylinks 21 and 22' and pivoted with respect to the rails A. The lower endof the link 22 has connected therewith a chain 23 which leads to andoperates the dump in the usual manner, the

detail of the function of this chainvnot beextends beneath the trackrail A and which is guided in its movementby suitable rollers 25.Secured upon one longitudinal superstructure bar 12 is a pulley 26 aboutwhich the cable 24 is trained, the cable leading from this pulley toanother pulley 27 mounted on the superstructure and extending thence tothe end of the lever arm 17.

This movement of the linkQl results in pulling upon the cable 24 whichwill result in upward swingingmovement of the plate 16. As the car istraveling it will pass over and disengage the trip rail 20' whereuponthe spring 18 will pull upon the lever arm 17 and swing the plate lhdownwardly with considerable force. By the time the plate 16 reaches itsdownward or vertical position the car E will he in such position thatthe plate 16 will strike against the bar 10 carried by the end gate Fand result in swinging the end gate to open position so that thecontents of the car will be dumped. Ow-

ing to the provision of the spring 18, the

arts will automatically reset themselves Atthe point where the cable 24passestroin the floor to the shaft, it is advisable to provide a pipe 28to serve as a housing for the cable. V

In some types of crossover dumps unprovided with a trip rail it isnecessary to provide a trip operated structure which Ihave shown inFigure l as comprising a crank shaft 29 journaled beneath the traclrwayand provided with an arm. 30 extending in the path 0 travel of the carand an arm, 31 to which the cable 241- is attached. The opera tion ofthis form is exactly the same as the other. I I

'From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will beapparent that I have thus provided an extremely simple and yet highlySfllClQlll? means which is automatically operable upon the approach of acar toward a dump to open the one gate of the car without any necessityfor manual manipulation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention it isof course to be understood that I reserve the right tomake such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts-aswill not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. in combination with the trackway at a mine dump and in combinationwith a mine car adapted to travel upon said trackway and having apivoted end gate, means for automatically raising said end gate when thecar reaches the dump comprising an elevated superstructure, a movablemember pivoted upon said superstructure and normally maintained indownwardly extending position, trip rail, engageable by the wheels ofthe car. a flexible member connected with said trip rail and with saidmovable member whereby to elevate said member upon the approach of a carto the dump, and a projection carried by the end gate of the car andengagcable by said movable member upon its return to normal positionwhen said trip rail is released whereby said movable member will strikesaid projection and raise the end gate.

2. A device of the character described comprising a superstructuredisposed upon 'a traclzway, a car adapted to travel upon said trackwayand having a pivoted end gate, a trip rail' disposed within saidtrackway and having a pivoted lever connected therewith, a transverseshaft carried by said superstructure, a plate secured upon said shaftand movable therewith, a lever arm on said shaft, a spring connected atone end withsaid superstructure, and at its other end with said leverarm whereby tohold said plate normally in a downwardlyextendingdirection, and a flexible member connected with said link andsaid lever arm whereby upon passage or" the car over said trip rail saidshaft will be locked to elevate said plate and subsequently returned tonormal position by said spring, the end gate of the car carrying aprojection engaged by said plate upon the downward movement of thelatter.

' ZACK GRASS,

